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The Maturing Love of Christ

both to know the love of Christ surpassing knowledge so to be filled to the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:13-21)


Paul writes to the church to be encouraged in his sufferings because it is for their glory (Ephesians 3:13-16). For their glory, so they are being transformed from glory to glory, so love is useful for maturing them in Christ so that they are filled to fullness of God (Ephesians 3:19). Glorification speaks of maturity, God purposed fullness in Christ when Jesus ascended on high he gives gifts to men to that children grow into fullness, into the head who is Christ (Ephesians 4: 7-16). The glory being revealed to Paul in the fellowship of the suffering of Christ in his body is being taught to us so that it is useful for our glory, to mature us. Love is such an important part of growing up, it is a maturing love of Christ.

now, not only but we boast in our sufferings knowing because suffering works out endurance, and endurance proves one and proving hope, and hope doesn't shame us because the love of God is poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit, the one given to us (Romans 5:3-5)

There is no condemnation in Christ because we have been given the Holy Spirit, thus the Spirit of life frees us from the law of sin and death, though we walk this earth in a body awaiting its redemption. In this hope we are saved, and hope doesn't bring shame. When we fall short of the glory of God, we have a living hope and savior that exists an anchor of our souls as he doesn't bring shame in our failure but gives hope and pours out the love of God in our hearts. We have such confidence as children to approach the throne of God's grace to receive grace and mercy as needed, having been washed with his blood and born a new into the kingdom of God by the Holy Spirit. 

for the creation was subjected to futility not of its own choosing rather through the one subjecting it to the extent of hope just as also creation itself will be set free from its bondage of decay into the glorious freedom of the children of God... we groan inwardly awaiting our adoption [fullness] the redemption of our bodies, for in this hope we are saved... (Ephesians 8:19-30)

Hope doesn't shame us for falling short of glory but gives us great confidence to "boast in our sufferings" as suffering has a purpose to mature. The bond of love energizes our faith and gives us strength to bear and endure suffering. God demonstrates his love for us that Jesus died for us, to justify us, save us from wrath, to reconcile us to God, and to be saved through his life (Romans 5:8-11). Unlike the old which was a ministry of death and condemnation the new covenant is a ministry of righteousness and life. Oh, in this hope we are being saved!

now, we know because all things work together for good to the one loved of God (Romans 8:28-30)

I don't always get the wisdom I need to mature in certain areas right away. But God demonstrates his love for me because Christ died for me. And through the new covenant I have received the promised Holy Spirit, adopted as his own. So I have testimony of blood and spirit. But I struggle with the washing of the body, of putting to death its desires. But God demonstrates his love as the Spirit pours out his love into my heart. He does this because the reason we do not endure suffering, is because we have not grasped this boundless love in Christ that helps us endure. So he goes back to this again. Oh how important it is to be strengthened by the love of God, so to endure unto maturity!

... so that you have strength to accordingly receive with all the saints what the breadth and length and height and depth both to know the love of God which surpasses knowledge so that filled to all the fullness of God (Romans 3:18-19)

"So that" you have strength. There is a foundation that must be established first, the inner being born a new of the Spirit, being rooted and founded in faith and love "so that you have strength" to lay hold of this greater love of Christ to be filled to the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:16-19). This fullness is maturity in Christ.* This is what God has purposed in the church.* We are founded on faith and love, and love makes effective our faith.*  There is a love that founds us and a greater love of Christ which exists the bond that leads us to maturity.* This greater love is how we will have strength to endure suffering so to grow into maturity.

now, the one powerful to do abundantly above all that we ask or imagine, according to the power that working in us, the one, the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations that forever and forever Amen! (Ephesians 3:20-21)

We struggle to endure suffering and sometimes can not imagine that we could be victorious. But God is powerful to do above all that we can imagine. This is what he has purposed so as to submit creation to futility so that one day we have glorious freedom as children of God. The maturing Love of Christ works to energize us so that we are being conformed to his image. To God be the glory, the one working in us, power through his Spirit in our inner being, Christ dwelling in our hearts through faith, rooted in love so we have strength to lay hold of a boundless love of Christ so we are filled to the fullness of God. Being matured through a faith energized through love. 

... and endurance proves one and proving [produces] hope, and hope doesn't shame us because the love of God is poured out in our hearts...

When we fall short, when we should be mature by now, we have a living hope that doesn't shame us but pours out love into our hearts. If faith works through love, and love is the bond that leads to maturity then when we do not endure unto maturity it is a foundational issue of faith and love. God brings us back to the foundational principles. In this hope and faith and love we abide and are being saved! Oh how we love Jesus because he first loved us.

Because He first loved me...

There is a name I love to hear
I love to sing its worth
It sounds like music in my ear
The sweetest name on earth

Oh, how I love Jesus
Oh, how I love Jesus
Oh, how I love Jesus
Because He first loved me

It tells me of a Savior's love
Who died to set me free
It tells me of His precious blood
The sinner's perfect plea

Oh, to me He is so wonderful
To me He is so wonderful
To me He is so wonderful
Because He first loved me

Oh, how I love Jesus
Oh, how I love Jesus
Oh, how I love Jesus
Because He first loved me

Because He first loved me
Oh, He first loved me




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